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• Life after Death and Reincarnation
• reincarnation proof
• Karma and Rebirth
• A New Life Ahead
• Death

Life after Death and Reincarnation

How does Buddhism believe in life after death? When life after death is real then what is the benefit for us in learning the Dhamma from this fact?

I would use the word "rebirth" rather than "reincarnation". Reincarnation interprete as an entity with the same characteristic being born again. But for me the characteristic will change.

A lot of people have doubt on this law as no one have solid prove.

For me the prove goes like this:

1. (Base on the law of Karma)If one do good/bad deeds, the same deeds will return to the doer. Like when you hit an object, the same amount of force will be directed back to you. For an effect to take place, the conditions must be in-place. Hence some escape the effect during their present life due to the insufficient conditions. e.g To plan a tree you need all the conditions: seed(cause), light, water, ferterliser and etc. If it stop when one life ended than the law of Karma will not be true. For those who believe, do good deeds.

2. Base on sutras that talk about the true self nature(buddha nature) e.g. Heart Sutra, Shurangama Sutra and etc, the "self" we attached to is just a projection of our true mind due to discriminations and excessive mental activities. When one house is wear out(our body), the discrimination still continue and have another projection (on a different house). This is like dreaming, everything during dreaming is real and true until you wake up. But as our mind is so confuse(greed, hatred and attachment), we continue to start another dream and dream on. e.g. If a wealthy person lost all his money because he is dead and there is any chance for him to acquire back the wealth, being greedy he will take the chance(to be reborn). So it would not stop until you really wake up by cutting greed, hatred and attachment which enlightenment. So this is the cause why we are born.

Kou Keong

From a Tibetan standpoint, dharma is all-important in this fortunate human rebirth. To some schools, enlightenment can only be accomplished as a human.

When any sentient being dies, the karma of its present and previous lifetimes follows it. When it is reborn, it is not "itself", but merely a conglomerate of energies and tendencies (no soul, no self...) which suffers according to its karma. Depending on the amount of realization (or its motivation towards practice, or its ego-clinging), the entity is reborn in a higher, lower, or similar state.

Most rebirths are truly foul. Animals, hell-beings, and hungry ghosts suffer for their ignorance, rage, and unquenched desires respectively.

Higher rebirths, though pleasant on the surface, carry their own pain. Asuras (demigods) suffer envy towards the gods. Devas (gods) literally need only to wish for their desires, but are too blissed out to make any strides towards final liberation.

To the Tibetans, it is best to be human. One is intelligent enough to practice dharma, and frustrated enough with the unceasing pain of existence to pursue the path diligently.

Use this lifetime while you can, to its most auspicious possibility.

Tsondru Zangmo

I have been asked to proove reincarnation.These answers are by no means exhaustive & i ask the sangha of thie website to please elaborate,correct....

A. Epistemic tools

For the non-Buddhas amongst us we have only 3 ways to ascertain if & how something exists:

Tool. .Object nature. .example.

Direct perception. Coarse/present to senses. eye apprehending form.

Inference subtle/hidden to senses emptiness,smoke on hill=fire

scriptural authority Very subtle rebith/other realms

B.Inclination of beings

1. Faith

For these beings rebirth/other realms exist just because Buddha said so.

2. Faith & inference

IF so much of what Buddha said ,i have experienced to be TRUE, THEN

with high probability,REBIRTH is TRUE

3. Pure logic

a) Subtle impermanence

Peter,who woke this morning(Po),is not the same as Peter on train(P1), is not the same as peter in office(P2) P3,P4........

conclusion

a succession of different peters means that it is a succession of new peters which means peter is constantly reborn.Cessation of Po(death) is arising of P1(rebirth) and so on.Cessation of Po is the last moment of THAT Peter & which will give rise(rebith) to P1,the fisrt moment of THIS Peter... . Likewise

(Pdeath) will give rise to (Prebirth).Just because we see this process in every day life but not at death is not a valid raeson to establish the Non-existence of rebirth but rather a valid reason to establish the incapacity of our senses to apprehend subtle objects.

b)Cessation of action produces an effect

The cessation(death) of an action(life) occurs in dependence upon causes. If there were nothing to cause the cessation of an action,action, in our case life, would never cease and therefore be permanent,no change which contradicts reality(conventional). However, since we expereience that actions do cease The cessation of an action has a cause.Since, whatever has a cause is a functioning thing & whatever is a functioning thing produces it`s OWN effect,it follows that cessation (flatline brainscan caused by blood clogging F.ex)is a functioning thing that produces an effect (rebirth)

There are many other lines of reasonings such as emptiness,dreams,karma that i hope will be elaborated by others. Mangalam

Bibliography

A."Yogic deeds of a Bodhisattva.Gyeltsap on Aryadeva`s cathusataka(400)" Sonam Rinpoche, Snow lion publications.

B.3a) "Recognizing reality.Dharmakiti`s tibetan interpretations" Dreyfus,N.Y. state university , SUNY press

3b) "Ocean of nectar.Commentary to Chandrakirti`s Guide to the middle way" Geshe Kelsang gyatso, Tharpa publications

taroherzog

I do not think that reincarnating can be proofed scientifically by today’s technology. Reincarnation and reborn may mean different thing when place, time, and form are concerned with micro/macro level. Its meaning in Buddhism’s sense may be not only at physical level but also spiritual level. Sometime it is in physical level only. (Human reborn as human in next life.) Sometime it is both or in spiritual level only. (Human reborn as god in next life.) Sometime it is at the process of perception.

There are many researches taken in Thailand about persons who remember past life. There are monks who saw many of his former lifes backward. A Buddhist monk could saw his skeleton left in Laos then he traveled to bury it. Samatha is a practice for seeing backward or foreword. You may try to proof by your practice. I am practicing Samatha and hope to proof it then use this understanding to learn about Karma deeper.

Cloning may proof that there is a missing thing in being life. But this time is not cloning from egg or pieces of tissue. I just wonder what will happen when scientist can clone the dead person to be alive. Will dead person reborn as himself again or just a Frankenstein or another person? It is just my imagination but hope for the future technology.

I think there are a lot of different understandings about these two topics. I will be interested to discuss and find out each of them. I hope this will help to clear our doubts on these topics and obtain a clear understanding on these topics to help us to know more about Buddhism.

I would like to contribute my understanding first and hope you all would respond and correct me if i am wrong.

To start with, i am a believer in Karma and Rebirth ( i use the word rebirth rather than reincarnation because things changes when one enter a different realm or even in one single life itself as no one is permanent. Therefore reincarnation is a wrong word to be used in Buddhism for me).

Both Karma and Rebirth are closely tied to each other. Because of Karma, rebirth exist. The definition of rebirth for me is one living being being reborn again in a realm. The definition of Karma is as simple as cause and effect. I understand that a lot of people are having a different definition. Let me explain why i choose this:

The law of cause and effect can be put in this way. There is an action (the source of cause) and reaction arise (the effect, and this effect will in turn became a cause) so the circle started. Examples:

1. Killing circle (basic level)

When a living being B1 is killed by living being B2(starter), the killing karma arised between B1 and B2. B1 being killed and hold on to the hatred will wait for changes to take revenge. Because of the hatred is strong, B1 will take any changes for the revenge. If B2 is in human realm, B1 will take a human realm as a main choice for rebirth(Of cause this had to take into consideration of other karma such as merits to enable B1 to obtain rebirth in the human realm) but B1 can still be rebirth in other realms to take revenge such as animal (eg.a poisonous snake). B1 being a snake/human will take its revenge by bitting/killing B2. B2 might be dead or not, if he will have the same hatred in his mind whether he is alive or not but will be worst if dead. B2 will again wait for his chances to take his revenge. So the circle started and continues, the cause -> effect/cause ->effect/cause..... until either one stop then the karma will be stopped.

Look at the slaugther house, you will see tens of thousands of animals being killed every day then we will understand why war/racial cleasing can be easily started and racial/religion issues in everyplace.

2) On Rebirth/Existence

The law of twelve causes and conditions is basically the work of karma. Living being exist because the original self nature (buddha nature) started to discriminate(cause), from the void exist from nowhere the observer and the observed(the effect is existense/birth). Because of mental activities (cause), like a dream where we never exist but we see ourself and others in it. Having the same dream, others joined in playing in the games projected by theirs mind illusions. (Step by step the law of twelve causes and conditions are fullfilled by the mind illusions)

An interactive role playing game of joy or/and suffer depending on one decision/action. Every decision/action(cause) we made in the dream will lead us to a result(effect) or cause us to play a different role. Sometimes happy, sad, suffer, wealthy, poor and we still enjoy or suffer from this dream as it is real. One will be pretty happy when one strike a lottery, sad when we loss in this dream. But when time is up(dead), he/she will leave all posessions in that game and continue fresh with another game and another role (rebirth).

If we look at how attach we people are to computer games where their emotions are affected by the games, one will understand why we exist. What a pity from a person who have realised that this is just a dream (Buddha). As the true self(buddha nature) is never affected from any events in the dream. Being compasionate the Buddhas are trying to wake us up from the dream/illusion.

So this why i put that karma and rebirth are tied to each other closely. Without karma, rebirth will never exist. If karma exist, rebirth will definately follows. This is also why i say believing in karma is not nessecary to attain Buddhahood as far as one pratice according to the methods taught by Buddha as practicing itself has already kick-off the cause and effect to the enlightenment path.

Having understand this but being too attach, i am still playing in the game. Hoping one day you and i can cut off all the attachment and wake up from the dream. From the Heart Sutra: "Form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form". How through it is from the stand point of the awaken one.

Kuo-Keong

You had made a wonderful explanation. I agree with you all and especially “believing in karma is not necessary to attain Buddhahood as far as one practice according to the methods taught by Buddha as practicing itself has already kick-off the cause and effect to the enlightenment path.”

There were many methods taught by the Buddha that seem to be too easy but very effective. Sila or precepts is to stop making new bad karmas and trying to make new good karmas instead. Sila is the general rule that directly relates with karma. Sila needs Samadhi or meditation to keep fully awareness. Panna or wisdom is needed for the right understanding and right action in dealing with karmas. Someone may keep following these 3 simple concepts of Sila, Samadhi, and Panna to be able to attain Buddhahood.

Someone may study the Heart Sutra: "Form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form. Form is emptiness, emptiness is form" and after understand its meaning the person can practice to attain Buddhahood. In my study uses different sentences as “The body is not mine. The body is not I. The body is not in me. I am not in the body. (The word “The body” stands for the Five Aggregates or Panca-khanda.)” The most important step is how to apply the right understanding to the right practice to get the right fruit? To end rebirth.

I bought 2 books specialized in the topic of Karmas (more than 1,000 pages) but so far I do not start reading because I believe that general knowledge of karma is already enough. I had other 4 books that I repeat reading 3-4 times and will read them again because I always get new understandings from the same wording. I tried to read all Dhamma books in market and finally the Dhamma books that published for the dead person ceremony. Now it is the time for practice and hope to repeat reading again. Actually I should advance more rapidly if I read few books, wrote little, and practiced more. I am a skeptic type.

It is not too late to turn your life around and be saved. The lord god will forgive you all your sins and you can be born again as a Christian. There is only one God and it is the Lord God, who resides in heaven. Jesus died for your sins and is waiting for you to become one of his children. Go to your church nearby and ask the minister for forgiveness. You will meet the true believers and the people who KNOW the real truth about life and heaven.

Thank you for this opportunity to speak to you, and please, please do not waste any more time before you push aside this foreign blight and falsehood you follow with this Buddha and join us all in the kingdom of the real god, the Lord Christ!

Bridgette

You are very brave for joined in this discussion board alone and gave your best wish as a Christian. I hope it is not too late for me to give you a very warm welcome and would like to invite you to participate with us more especially in the Buddhism’s topic.

This place is specially and kindly provided for Buddhism Discussion but not limited for only Buddhists. I believe that my understanding is correct. You as a Christian may ask any questions that you feel conflicting between our religions. But please keep braving as you did because the people here and I too will response in Buddhist’s way. Everyone here believes that Buddhism is or should be the best for him or her. I too will defend for the best of the Buddhism in the similar way, as a good Christian should do.

A Buddhist friend of mine turned to be a Christian because the Buddha did not help him when he asked for. Buddhism is too difficult for him or Buddhism is not for him. I tried to explain the Buddhist concept but he did not understand. He was a Buddhist more than 35 years and now he is a good Christian and enjoys life more than before. I believe that he matches with Christian. Buddhism is not only a religion but also the way of practice. No one but the person who practice himself can help.

Again please keep braving as you did and hope to see your participation more.

First i would like to ask we fellow buddhists not to argue among ourself on someone posting their thought on a Buddhist forum. She might be of ignorant or with good intention. If we argue among ourself because of this what is the point, she properly just laugh if her purpose if for the negative. And if positive far more we shouldn't.

Secondly, i would like to thanks Bridgette as i take the intention as a positive one. (Give the benefit of doubt).

Thirdly, Bridgette i will appreciate if you can put it in the right forum, your e-mail address else i will take it as a negative intention. And i will start asking questions which Chistrianity can't answer so far to my knowledge. And i hope you would take it positively also as you are trying to discuss this it over the Buddhism forum.

May your God bless you.

Kuo-Keong

I apologize for my postings on this Buddhist discussion forum. Although my beliefs are completely different than most of yours and I feel it is my duty to help non-Christians become Christians, I made the mistake of trying too hard to impose my beliefs on you without showing proper respect for you, your beliefs, and this discussion group. If you had done the same to me, I would have been most upset and angry. Yet, some of your replies showed a lot of compassion, understanding, and caring which touches me as a person, and reminds me that, despite your different beliefs, you are good, decent people. Please forgive me for disturbing your group.

Bridgette

Your posting reminds me when I tried to invite a group of Christians to meditate in Buddhist’s way. That time taught me that sometime good intention could not cause good outcomes especially when different beliefs were involved. My Buddhist friend who turned to be a Christian stopped calling me. He may knew that every time the voice that he talks to the god to help him could make me worry because it is against my belief.

Your posting caused me to cultivate more. I need more of Brahmavihara (loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and neutrality). Neutrality is an important factor that I should be fair to you as a person. I should not see you as a Christian but I need to see you as I accept others and myself with the same response. Actually compassion is a translated word from Karuna. I should cultivate more of Karuna to explain the Four Noble Truths to you but I did not because that timing was not right. For example your sin should be no more sin when everyone here forgive you. You had asked for forgiveness directly to the right affected persons who have the right to forgive you. The Buddha has no right because it is the Karma between person to person. This is how Buddhist believes and you may see that there is a suitable reason of cause and result in the belief.

Your posting taught me a lot. Thanks and there is nothing to be forgiven. If I did make something not appropriate to you, please forgive me too.

I want to know about death.

The thought of death scares me.

What do Buddhists think about death?

What happens at the time of death?

Marcus

I love talking about death cause I am scared to death. ;)

As a buddhist, I think we should have the thought of death with us all the time so as not to become heedless. But I occasionally found myself forget about the thought of death from time to time. (esp. when I am having fun and heedless ;)

I think death is just another end of one life and we have to be reborn again and again until we can get out of the samsara.

I think the essence of life is that we should learn to know how to die. And when we know how to die, death will become less fearful.

We should constantly have meditative mind and life will be worth living. And when the time comes, we should know how to die mindfully and peacefully so that we will be reborn in another good ream. (If you still enjoy surfing the samsara and the human ream is already nice enough). :)

All in all, this is just merely a word. It will be no use at all if we fail to put it into practice. Ann

The Buddha always recalled about death in every breath. Death is normal way of life so Buddhist should not be afraid of dying. Buddhist should be more afraid of rebirth because rebirth is depended on karma. Rebirth is not happened by one own choice. This life as a human being is very best chance but next life may be other life form so human should cultivate Dhamma for better rebirth with low risk.

While dying, wind element will stop then fire element will stop. Without wind and fire elements, earth and water elements will be disintegrated. Vinnana (mind body or soul) will move from the center of the body at navel area up along the windpipe and move out from the body through the nose. Then mind body will be pulled to new realm according to karma. Death and rebirth is occurred at the same instance.

Again, dying is less fearful than rebirth.

Last updated
12-11-2542